EPT- 03-16-2011 - Added Tyler explaining how to defend against a cannon rush.
- 03-02-2011 - Added a list of players quoted in this thread. Added iControL's advice about defending early Hellion harass. Added PredY's bio->mech guide. Added 3 gate Stalker guide.
Introduction
This thread is for those who don't have time to wade through all the posts in the strategy forum and just want the gist from the top people playing the game. Please reply with links to posts you would like to see added in this thread. We use the same guidelines as the Team Liquid Opens for determining professional players. As a general rule, if the player is not not prominently listed in the SC2 International TLPD, they are not a professional player. If a player is not a professional they will not be added to this thread. This means we will miss out on some valuable posts, but in return we get a much higher quality overall. There is one exception. With the advent of hilighted posters there is a group of amateur players who have been judged by the community to have well supported and reasoned arguments about strategy. Because of this, posts made by hilighted accounts will be added to this thread as well.
This thread is not meant to be a discussion about who is right and who is wrong. Even the pros disagree with each other sometimes! You may even see a pro change his opinion over time, so a later post could disagree with an earlier post by the same person! This thread is simply supposed to be a resource to allow people to find the opinions of professional players and use the information to better their own game. Please remember to follow the strategy forum guidelines when posting in this thread.
How To Contribute
There are two ways you can help out with this thread:
- Flag outdated advice. Certain advice will become outdated, whether because of changes in the game itself or in strategy. Make a post if you think something has become outdated.
- Post links to advice. If you are reading a thread or watching a video and a pro says something insightful, post it in this thread!
The Strategy Archive
Here is the compiled archive of strategy advice, organized by matchup.
TvZ 
- [Post #1] Benefits and followup to harassing SCVs building early buildings.
- [Post #2] Responding to a double bunker ramp block.
TvP 
- [Guide #1] Opening with bio and transitioning into mech.
- [Guide #2] 1 Gate expand while faking a 3 Gate Robo.
- [Post #1] A hybrid biomech style that seems to do better against blink Stalkers and Protoss air.
- [Post #2] How a Protoss can counter Hellion harass late game.
- [Post #3] Jinro's opinion on how Protoss should respond to mech play.
- [Post #4] Jinro talks about Carriers and mentions that he thinks PreDy's mech style could be more viable since the removal of Voidray speed.
- [Post #5] PreDy mentions some of the harass tactics Jinro uses.
- [Post #6] More on the hybrid bio/mech and on countering Carriers.
- [Post #7] Specific reasons why bio/mech seems to work better than pure mech.
- [Post #8] Being able to beat any Protoss ground.
- [Post #9]Mech counter to heavy Zealot. The important of Orbitals when playing mech. Adapting to 4gate openings and countering Protoss air.
- [Post #10] How to respond depending on when you scout it. Different responses for 1gate and 2gate proxies. Follow up builds to win the game.
- [Post #11] Determining whether a Terran is teching.
- [Post #12] Negative opinion of tank play and how to counter it.
- [Post #13] Handling hellion harass early game.
ZvP - [Post #1] When to build Zealots.
- [Post #2] Going double Robo.
- [Post #3] Zealots and gas management. The importance of a defensive cannon at the natural.
- [Post #4] Benefits for Protoss of being active with your army.
- [Post #6] Potential Zerg drop tactics.
- [Post #6] Dealing with Voidray/Colossus.
- [Post #7] Responding to a 1base turtling Protoss.
TvT - None yet!
ZvZ - [Post #1] Idra on various builds and their counters.
- [Post #2] The importance of mutas and how to get there.
- [Post #3] How to respond to a 6 pool.
- [Post #4] 15 pool viable against 6 pool.
PvP - [Guide #1] A 3 gate stalker build specifically designed to counter 4 gate. Includes a guide and a Q&A in thread.
- [Post #1] Builds used to counter 4gate. Positioning and engagement tactics.
- [Post #2] Which build to use against different 4gate variations. Tip about sentry count.
- [VOD #1]@20:00 How to stop cannon rushes on maps like Metalopolis where the low ground is close to your minerals. You can discover he is cannoning based on his scouting pattern. The correct response is to throw down a Forge and block off your ramp with 3 Pylons. Then, when you have enough minerals, throw down a cannon on the high ground to kill his cannons. He will not have vision of the high ground.
General T General Z- [Post #1] Hiding the Overlord scout.
- [Post #2] Adapting your strategy for the map.
- [Post #3] Creep tumors, baneling micro, worker transfer.
- [Post #4] When to send a scouting drone.
General P- [Post #1] Expert blink micro, thinking about when to blink forward as well as back.
Miscellaneous- [Post #1] Practicing and getting better.
- [Post #2] Making money off Starcraft 2.
- [Post #3] The tradeoff between expanding and building a larger army.
- [Video #1]@6:45 On when you should take gas at your bases. As a general rule, if you are close to saturated you should take gas even if it will pile up.
Who's In This Thread
In the below spoiler tag you'll find a list of pros and hilighted posters who have been quoted in this thread (in alphabetical order).
+ Show Spoiler [List of Players] +
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